Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey: Now we've got to go on a run

Aaron Ramsey has challenged Arsenal to prove victory over Manchester City has set a benchmark for the rest of the campaign and just the start of a long unbeaten run.

The Gunners secured only their second win in eight matches at the Etihad Stadum after an impressive performance brimming with resilience and maturity, capped with goals from Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud.

Arsene Wenger’s side moved within one point of fourth-placed Manchester United and helped Chelsea open up a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a thoroughly deserved win.

Arsenal have often struggled to impose themselves against teams vying for the title in recent seasons but Ramsey believes this latest success has laid down a template they must now replicate on a weekly basis after combative wins against Stoke and City.

“I thought it was a very complete performance from us,” Ramsey told Standard Sport. “We defended really well as a team, were really hard to break down and we kept forcing them out wide instead of the positions that David Silva and players like that like to take up in behind the midfield. We eliminated that threat.

“It was important to [get a win away from home against a big team] We have always been confident coming into these games but we have been a bit too open in the past and we have paid the price for that. Yesterday, we defended really well. We kept our team shape tight defensively and we took our chances when we needed to.

Manchester City v Arsenal - player ratings

Manchester City v Arsenal - player ratings

1/13
Vincent Kompany: 5

First game for a month and it showed. Left himself liable to be punished when pushing into Monreal for penalty. Made couple of important blocks.

2/13
James Milner: 6

Jack of all trades but master of none? Used as an emergency striker in recent weeks and had forward role here but had little impact on proceedings.

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3/13
Sergio Aguero:

First start in six weeks and lack of sharpness painfully clear. Improved a little after break but overall made very fitful impact, needs time to find form again.

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4/13
David Ospina: 6

Colombian kept place ahead and rewarded his manager’s faith with a third clean sheet on the bounce. Good stop from Navas but not tested greatly.

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5/13
Hector Bellerin: 7

Replaced the again-injured Mathieu Debuchy and stood up to task well. Did not allow himself to be overawed and diffused threat of pacy Navas.

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6/13
Per Mertesacker: 7

One of his better displays, standing up well to City’s attacks and helping unite a changed Gunners defence. Kept Aguero threat to a minimum.

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7/13
Laurent Koscielny: 7

Entered referee’s book in the early exchanges after steaming into Fernandinho. Or was it Fernando? Made key block on cross intended for Aguero.

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8/13
Nacho Monreal: 7

Surprise pick ahead of Gibbs but Wenger’s gamble paid off and then some. Made the most of Kompany’s lunge to win early penalty to set up the victory.

9/13
Francis Coquelin: 8

Frenchman remained disciplined, screening in front of an unfamiliar defence. Also not afraid to ball up his colleagues on occasion.

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10/13
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 6

Enjoyed sporadic spells in possession on right as City controlled ball. One cross set up Giroud but let down by poor decision making at times.

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11/13
Santi Cazorla: 8

Continued fine recent form, opening the scoring from the spot for his fifth in nine games. Faded late on but provided cross for Giroud’s clincher.

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12/13
Alexis Sanchez: 7

Made a few penetrating runs and always offered a threat but unable to influence game as much as in recent weeks. Trickery troubled Demichelis.

13/13
BEST OFF BENCH - Tomas Rosicky: 6

Replaced Oxlade-Chamberlain halfway through the second half to provide some extra calmness and solidity as City searched for a way back into the match.

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“We have had a couple of clean sheets and hopefully we can build on that. If we do keep clean sheets we know we are going to have a great chance of taking all three points. We have an FA Cup game now which is important. We want to retain that so it is important to get mentally prepared for that before the league starts again.

“We have to take every game as it comes. There is still a long way to go in this league. Many teams are taking points off each other. We will just have to concentrate on our own game and hopefully go on a big run and see where that takes us at the end.”

Arsenal have never finished outside the top four during Wenger’s time in charge at the club and Ramsey believes that pedigree will stand his team-mates in good stead as the battle intensifies over the second half of the season.

“It was important to win because all the other teams won,” he said. “The pressure was on us. Manchester City have made this place a fortress over the years. Not many teams come away with three points so we are delighted with the way we went about it and we are happy we closed the gap.

“But we have been in this position before where we have been in a fight for fourth place and that will only help us. We know what to expect and we know what we have to do to achieve that. But obviously we are not thinking about that - we will just take each game as it comes and see where we end up.”